320 HETEROMERA. 



elytra flat, gradually narrowed, pygidium more or less un- 

 covered ; legs long, anterior coxae strong, very prominent, 

 contiguous ; intermediate coxae with trochantina ; tarsal 

 claws simple or toothed. Mordellidae. 



b h, Pronotum not separated from sides of 

 prothorax (at least in front). 



Ligula membranous, more or less prominent; maxillary 

 lobes fringed, soldered at base, inner one sometimes rudi- 

 mentary or absent ; last joint of maxillary palpi not 

 hatchet-shaped ; mandibles without membranous border on 

 inner-side ; head vertical, resting on anterior coxae, neck 

 sunk in thorax ; eyes emarginate or entire ; antennae saw- 

 like or comblike ; elytra sometimes covering abdomen, at 

 others abbreviated and gaping, in latter case wings not 

 folded under them ; legs more or less long, anterior coxae 

 prominent, contiguous ; intermediate coxae with or without 

 trochantina ; penultimate tarsal joint entire, claws toothed, 

 rarely simple ; abdomen with from five to eight segments. 



Bhipiphoridae. 



2, Tarsal claws split into two unequal portions. 



Ligula prominent, sinuate or bilobed; maxillary lobes 

 horny, fringed, inner one sometimes very small ; head much 

 inclined, neck free ; eyes emarginate or entire ; antennae 

 variable ; thorax narrower at base than elytra, pronotum 

 not separate from sides ; elytra usually flexible, imper- 

 fectly embracing body ; anterior coxae nearly cylindrical, 

 very large, contiguous, directed backward ; penultimate 

 tarsal joint nearly always simple, claws divided into two 

 branches, lower one usually very slender, rarely replaced 

 by a tooth. Meloidae. 



II. Head not constricted into a neck behind. 



Ligula prominent, bilobed, lobes divergent and rounded ; 

 outer maxillary lobe longer than inner ; mandibles nearly 

 always bifid at apex, with a membranous border and fringed 

 on inner-side ; antennae long, nearly always threadlike, 

 base free ; thorax narrower than elytra at base, pronotum 

 not separate from sides ; elytra elongate, usually imper- 

 fectly embracing abdomen ; legs long, anterior coxae elon- 

 gate, nearly cylindrical, contiguous, prominent ; penultimate 

 tarsal joint nearly always sub-bilobed, claws simple. 



Oedemeridae, 



